BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team gave itself a chance for a key late-season win against No. 20 Lehigh, trailing by just three at halftime, but the Mountain Hawks tacked together wins in all five matches after the break en route to a 34-6 win in Grace Hall.
 
All total, it was a six-match winning streak for the Mountain Hawks to close the dual, including wins from all four of Lehigh's ranked wrestlers – three of those wins with bonus points.
 
The first six matches of the dual were all close ones decided by decision. Penn's Carmen Ferrante opened the dual with a 4-3 win over Luke Resnick at 125. After a takedown from Resnick in the first period, Ferrante put together a reversal in the second before riding the entire third period for the win.
 
Penn's other winner was No. 14 Anthony Artalona who edged Courtlandt Schuyler, 5-4, in tiebreakers at 149 pounds. Schuyler had the first takedown, scoring midway through the second period. Artalona would score a takedown of his own in the third, but a quick escape from Schuyler forced overtime. Artalona was close to a winning takedown in the extra period, but Schuyler barely defended. In rideouts, Schuyler elected to start underneath and he was unable to escape. Artalona would quickly work to his feet and escape in the next period, locking up the win.
 
Artalona's win tied the dual, 6-6, after Brandon Paetzell and Ryan Pomrinca won close matches to give Lehigh a lead. Paetzell used a first period takedown to defeat Doug Zapf, 3-0, at 133 pounds before A third period reversal from Pomrinca knocked off A.J. Vindici, 5-4, at 141.
 
No. 15 Josh Humphreys closed the first half with a 5-3 decision over Joe Oliva. Humphreys scored a takedown early in the first period and added two nearfall for a 4-0 lead after one period. Oliva controlled the rest of the bout, scoring a third period takedown and drawing a point off a second stall warning on Humphreys, but his effort to turn Humphreys for the win came up short.
 
Out of halftime, Kent Lane scored a late takedown to defeat Neil Antrassian, 4-3, at 165. From there, the Mountain Hawks scored bonus points in the next four matches. No. 5 Jordan Kutler defeated Jake Hendricks, 14-3, at 174 before three straight falls closed the dual. No. 10 Ryan Preisch pinned Ryan Farber at 4:37, while Jake Jacobsen pinned Greg Bensley at 1:19 and No. 5 Jordan Wood pinned Ben Goldin at 1:36.
 
With the regular season concluded, Penn sets its sights on the EIWA Championships in Binghamton March 8-9.
 
No. 20 Lehigh defeats Penn, 34-6
125: Carmen Ferrante (Penn) DEC Luke Resnick (Lehigh), 4-3; Penn leads, 3-0
133: Brandon Paetzell (Lehigh) DEC Doug Zapf (Penn), 3-0; Match tied, 3-3
141: Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) DEC A.J. Vindici (Penn), 5-4; Lehigh leads, 6-3
149: No. 14 Anthony Artalona (Penn) DEC Courtlandt Schuyler (Lehigh), 5-4 (TB); Match tied, 6-6
157: No. 15 Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) DEC Joe Oliva (Penn), 5-3; Lehigh leads, 9-6
165: Kent Lane (Lehigh) DEC Neil Antrassian (Penn), 4-3; Lehigh leads, 12-6
174: No. 5 Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) MD Jake Hendricks (Penn), 14-3; Lehigh leads, 16-6
184: No. 10 Ryan Preisch (Lehigh) FALL Ryan Farber (Penn), 4:37; Lehigh leads, 22-6
197: Jake Jacobsen (Lehigh) FALL Greg Bensley (Penn), 1:19; Lehigh leads, 28-6
284: No. 5 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) FALL Ben Goldin (Penn), 1:36; Lehigh leads, 34-6